Prefabricated girder channel for ventilation heating or air conditioning of the industrial halls

ABSTRACT

An air-diffuser girder is formed by a pair of laterally adjacent reinforced-concrete main beams and a thin sheet spanning their lower longitudinal edges. The crosspieces of the main-beams are joined together to form the upper wall of a duct while the sheet forms the lower wall and the vertical webs of the beams form the side walls. Each of the beams is molded along its lower outside edge with an angle iron to which are welded a plurality of vertical studs. Nuts mounted on these studs hold the sheet removably in place and allow this sheet to be adjustably spaced below the soles of the beams so as to form laterally opening apertures. The longitudinal edges of the sheet extend out beyond the beams and can be bent up to direct air flow upwardly, or the sheet can be shaped against the soles of the beams and formed with central downwardly opening nozzles.

United States Patent 1 Constantinescu et al.

PREFABRICATED GIRDER CHANNEL FOR VENTILATION HEATING OR AIR CONDITIONING OF THE INDUSTRIAL HALLS Inventors: Petre Constantinescu; Mihail Popescu; Constantin Dumitrescu, all of Bucharest, Romania Institutal De Proiectari al Industriei Usoare Ipiu, Bucharest, Romania Filed: Apr. 19, 1971 Appl. No.: 135,103

Assignee:

US. Cl 52/173, 52/303, 52/431, '52/611, 52/731 Int. Cl .L E041 17/04 Field of Search 52/302, 303, 731, 52/732, 722, 610, 611, 602; 98/29, 31, 32, 33,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 938,134 3/1948 France 52/611 1,016,062 8/1952 France 52/611 811,866 6/1951 Germany 52/722 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Attorneyl(arl F. Ross [57] ABSTRACT An air-diffuser girder is formed by a pair of laterally adjacent reinforced-concrete main beams and a thin sheet spanning their lower longitudinal edges. The crosspieces of the main-beams are joined together to form the upper wall of a duct while the sheet forms the lower wall and the vertical webs of the beams form the side walls. Each of the beams is molded along its lower outside edge with an angle iron to which are welded aplurality of vertical studs. Nuts mounted on these studs hold the sheet removably in place and allow this sheet to be adjustably spaced below the soles of the beams so as to form laterally opening apertures. The longitudinal edges of the sheet extend out beyond the beams and can be bent up to direct air flow upwardly, or the sheet can be shaped against the soles of the beams and formed with central downwardly opening nozzles.

- 15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PREFABRICATED GIRDER CHANNEL FOR VENTILATION HEATING OR AIR CONDITIONING OF THE INDUSTRIAL HALLS 'FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pre-cast reinforced-concrete main girder. More specifically this invention relates to a reinforced-concrete load-carrying structural element which also serves as a heating, ventilating or air-conditioning duct.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In modern industry it has been found that the output of the workers depends greatly on their comfort. To this end complete climate control is aimed at with sufficient heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer. Similar requirements characterize recreational facilities, institutions of learning and health care, etc.

Installations that carry out this task usually use circulating air both to carry the heat and cold. Each area of a plant or office can be provided with its own apparatus, or a central apparatus can supply the whole building or complex of buildings. In either case, ductwork is a commonly provided to distribute the treated air and pick up air to be recirculated for reheating or cooling.

Prior ducts for this purpose are often simply made of sheet metal and hung on the existing girders or are formed in the ceiling or floor.

Another solution is to use box girders and the like as the bearing elements in the building structure, and'to use the existing passages through these elements as the ducts. The dual-purpose use of such girders is extremely advantageous, but the girders'are prohibitive in cost, especially when made of reinforced concrete, are not sufficiently versatile and generally have not found widespread acceptance.

Another disadvantage of known reinforced-concrete girders which also serve as ducts is that the necessary intakes, vents, and similar openings can only be made or altered with great difficulty.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above objects are obtained with a structural element comprising a pair of laterally adjacent and parallel reinforced-concrete profile main beams formed at their upper sides with mutually approaching ridges, and a thin sheet spanning the lower sides of the beams and extending along their length. The ridges are longitudinally joined and form the upper wall of a horizontally extending duct whose lower wall is constituted by the sheet and side walls by the beams.

According to another feature of this invention, reinforced-concrete main beams are used as the profile beams. Such beams are made in various sizes and with a correspondingly wide range of bearing capacities. Each of the ridges is formed by half of the crosspiece of the beam, and these crosspieces can be simply butted or spaced with the interstice filled with concrete.

The sheet forming the lower passage wall, according to yet another feature of the present invention, forms the necessary openings for taking in or exhausting air. The beams are provided at their lower outer edges with integral angle irons to which threaded studs are fastened, by welding for instance, the studs in turn serving to secure the sheet or sheets. In this manner the sheets can be simply put in place, and just as simply removed. The angle iron or other steel profile is inbedded in the concrete of the beam and may be welded or otherwise affixed to the steel reinforcements thereof.

Inaccordance with yet another feature of this invention the sheets are spaced from the lower edges of the beams, forming therewith a longitudinally extending laterally open aperture for distribution of hot or cold air, and the sheet or sheets extend laterally beyond the lower edges of the beams for most even distribution. It is also possible to form the projecting longitudinal edges of the sheets with an upturned lip so as to direct the conditioned air up as is required in indirect heating and air-conditioning installations.

The structural element according to the present invention lends itself to virtually any type of construction and heating or air-conditioning system. The beams used to form it are prefabricated from pre-stressed concrete and the duct cross section can be made to correspond to many requirements.

wider concrete reinforcing members projecting laterally from the threads and special reinforcements laid in the gap and preferably connected with those of the beams.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following description, reference being made to the drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are cross sections through three different embodiments of the present invention; FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the installation of the structural element according to the present invention in two different manners, using the girder of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section through an installation similar to that of FIG. 5, showing how it can be adapted to receive a ventilation apparatus.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION As seen in FIG. 1 a structural element comprises a pair of prefabricated concrete main beams 1 reinforced with longitudinally extending rods 2' that can be prestressed. These beams 1 are meant to run substantially horizontally, although their use as joists is not ruled out, with their thick crosspiece portion In at the top and their upright web 1b extending down therefrom and resting on the necessary supports such as columns or pillars.

Each of the beams l is provided at its sole with a longidutinally extending angle iron 3 that is set in at its outer corner. These angle irons 3 make it possible to mount brackets and clips on the beams l for the eventual securing of piping, electrical wiring, and the like.

In addition threaded studs 4 adapted to receive nuts 5 can be welded to the vertical flanks of the angle irons 3.

The crosspiece portions 1a of the beams 1 are provided with inwardly extending and overlapping reinforcement bars 6, which can be just the ends of the transverse reinforcement of the crosspieces la. Longitudinally extending reinforcement bars 7 are laid in among the bars 6 and the whole network is cast to form a solid reinforced-concrete upper wall 8. Thus, the webs or vertical side portions 1b of the beams 1 form the side walls and the wall 8 the top wall of a horizontally extending duct 9. This structure is common to all embodiments seen in FIGS. 1 3.

FIG. 1 shows how the bottom wall of the duct 9 is formed by a thin sheet 10 having longitudinal edges 10a extending out beyond the beam webs 1b. The sheet 10 is here made of galvanized steel. It is spaced from the soles of the beams 1 with the studs 3 passing through it and the nuts 5 determining the vertical width w of the aperture 10b so formed. The width w should be equal to 0.01 to 0.05 times H W, preferably around 0.04, H being the overall height of the duct 9 and W being its mean width. With this embodiment the heated or cooled air blown through the duct 9 is expelled laterally through the apertures 10b in the direction shown by arrow 10c. This type of arrangement is useful in heating halls and the like where the ceilings are relatively low.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom sheet 10 with almost exactly the same dimensions as the sheet 10 of FIG. 1, but here provided with upwardly directed wing flaps 10d extending from the edges of the longitudinal edge regions 10a. These bent-up flaps direct the air upwardly as shown by arrow le. Such an arrangement is useful in large areas with high ceilings. The sheet 10' here is made of polyvinyl chloride.

In FIG. 3 a sheet 10" is provided which is clamped tightly to the soles of the beams 1 and is formed at its center with an opening 10f constituted by two downwardly and somewhat inwardly directed flaps 10 so that the air is expelled in the direction shown by arrow 10h. Here the sheet 10" is made of fiberboard, and the arrangement is useful for the heating or cooling of particular areas directly under the nozzles 10f. An extension 20 can be fitted over the nozzle 10f.

FIG. 4 shows how two arrangements A and A, as shown in FIG. 2 bear on a post 16, with a narrow gap 11 left between the ends of the beams 1 and walls 8. This gap 11 is ultimately filled to prevent leakage from i the duct 9. Elastomeric material can be used to fill this gap 11 'to compensate for expansion.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two arrangements D and D, as shown in FIG. 2 bearing on a post 17 having a very wide head so that a wide gap 12 is formed. A ventilating apparatus 18 is fitted in this gap 12 so that it can draw air from the outside in through a vent cap 15 controlled by vanes 13 and expel it through heat exchangers 19 into the ducts 9. The roof of the building in question is shown at 14, it rests directly on the top of the girderducts D, and D The heat-exchangers 19 can be cut out for use of the arrangement for simple ventilation.

The transverse width of the wall 8 determines the overall cross-sectional area of the duct 9 so that if a larger duct is needed this wall width is increased and vice versa.

We claim:

1. A structural element comprising a pair of laterally adjacent reinforced-concrete T-profile main beams formed at their upper sides withvmutually approaching ridges, reinforcing rods projecting laterally from said ridges, a wall region of concrete embedding said projecting rods and interconnecting said ridges, and a thin sheet spanning the lower sides of said beams and extending along their length, said ridges being longitudinally joined by and forming with said wall region the upper wall of a horizontally extending duct, said sheet forming the lower wall of said duct and said beams forming the side walls thereof, each of said beams being provided along its lower edge with an angle iron anchored in the concrete thereof and with a plurality of studs welded laterally to the angle iron, said sheet being mounted on said studs.

2. The element defined in claim 1 wherein said sheet has longitudinal edges extending laterally beyond said beams, said sheet being spaced from at least one of said beams and thereby forming atleast one lateral opening.

3. The element defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said longitudinal edges is bent up.

4. The element defined in claim 3 wherein said sheet is formed with at least one downwardly opening central nozzle.

5. A structure comprising a support column, and a pair of structural elements, each as defined in claim 1, supported on said column in alignmentwith one another and with a spacing only sufficient to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction, said structural elements defining a common air duct.

6. A structure comprising a support column, a pair of structural elements supported on said column in alignment with one another and with a spacing between them, each of said structural elements comprising a pair of laterally adjacent reinforced-concrete profile main beams formed at their uppersides with mutually approaching ridges, and a thin sheet spanning the lower sides of said beams and extending along their length, said ridges being longitudinally joined and forming the upper wall of a horizontally extending duct, said sheet forming thelower wall of said duct and said beams forming the side walls thereof, and an air conditioning unit mounted on said column in the space between said elements.

7. The element defined in claim 6 wherein each of said main beams of the load carrying structure is of T- section.

8. The element defined in claim 6 wherein said sheet has longitudinal edges extending laterally beyond said beams, said sheet being spaced from at least one of said beams and thereby forming at least one lateral opening.

9. The element defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of said longitudinal edges is bent up.

10. The element defined in claim 8 wherein said sheet is formed with at least one downwardly opening central nozzle.

11. The element defined in claim 6, further comprising a wall region extending between and interconnecting said ridges.

12. The element defined in claim 11 wherein each of said beams has a plurality of reinforcing rods projecting laterally from said ridges, said rods being embedded in said wall region.

13. The element defined in claim 6 wherein each of said beams is provided along one of its lower longitudinal edges with a mounting strip.

14. The element defined in claim 13 wherein said mounting strip is an angle iron.

15. The element defined in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of vertical studs and nuts threadedly mounted thereon, said studs being secured to said angle iron and passing through said sheet, said sheet resting on said nuts.

* a s s- 4: 

1. A structural element comprising a pair of laterally adjacent reinforced-concrete T-profile main beams formed at their upper sides with mutually approaching ridges, reinforcing rods projecting laterally from said ridges, a wall region of concrete embedding said projecting rods and interconnecting said ridges, and a thin sheet spanning the lower sides of said beams and extending along their length, said ridges being longitudinally joined by and forming with said wall region the upper wall of a horizontally extending duct, said sheet Forming the lower wall of said duct and said beams forming the side walls thereof, each of said beams being provided along its lower edge with an angle iron anchored in the concrete thereof and with a plurality of studs welded laterally to the angle iron, said sheet being mounted on said studs.
 2. The element defined in claim 1 wherein said sheet has longitudinal edges extending laterally beyond said beams, said sheet being spaced from at least one of said beams and thereby forming at least one lateral opening.
 3. The element defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said longitudinal edges is bent up.
 4. The element defined in claim 3 wherein said sheet is formed with at least one downwardly opening central nozzle.
 5. A structure comprising a support column, and a pair of structural elements, each as defined in claim 1, supported on said column in alignment with one another and with a spacing only sufficient to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction, said structural elements defining a common air duct.
 6. A structure comprising a support column, a pair of structural elements supported on said column in alignment with one another and with a spacing between them, each of said structural elements comprising a pair of laterally adjacent reinforced-concrete profile main beams formed at their upper sides with mutually approaching ridges, and a thin sheet spanning the lower sides of said beams and extending along their length, said ridges being longitudinally joined and forming the upper wall of a horizontally extending duct, said sheet forming the lower wall of said duct and said beams forming the side walls thereof, and an air conditioning unit mounted on said column in the space between said elements.
 7. The element defined in claim 6 wherein each of said main beams of the load carrying structure is of T-section.
 8. The element defined in claim 6 wherein said sheet has longitudinal edges extending laterally beyond said beams, said sheet being spaced from at least one of said beams and thereby forming at least one lateral opening.
 9. The element defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of said longitudinal edges is bent up.
 10. The element defined in claim 8 wherein said sheet is formed with at least one downwardly opening central nozzle.
 11. The element defined in claim 6, further comprising a wall region extending between and interconnecting said ridges.
 12. The element defined in claim 11 wherein each of said beams has a plurality of reinforcing rods projecting laterally from said ridges, said rods being embedded in said wall region.
 13. The element defined in claim 6 wherein each of said beams is provided along one of its lower longitudinal edges with a mounting strip.
 14. The element defined in claim 13 wherein said mounting strip is an angle iron.
 15. The element defined in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of vertical studs and nuts threadedly mounted thereon, said studs being secured to said angle iron and passing through said sheet, said sheet resting on said nuts. 